Cancer is the leading cause of disease related deaths in Adolescents & Young Adults (AYA's). AYA's require individualized care based on their age. There are unique and specific challenges faced by AYA's facing cancer as opposed to other age groups. Interpersonal issues (peer and family relations, sexuality) and emotional issues, as well as economic and financial burdens, must be considered.
The most important thing that healthcare providers can do is provide patients and families with current information and resources. There are resources and websites available that are tailored to meet the needs of AYA's. A nurse navigator, patient navigator or social worker can be an ideal person to educate or facilitate fertility conversations between the patient and his.her physician.
Fertility Preservation discussions should occur at diagnosis, and both the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) and American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommend the education of oncology patients about the options available to preserve their fertility. Click here to view the recommendations.
Fertility Preservation Options
Fertility Preservation options available for boys and men include
Sperm Banking/Cryopreservation
Testicular Epididymal Sperm Extraction (TESE)
Electroejaculation (EEJ)
Testicular Tissue Freezing
Testicular Shielding
Fertility Preservation Options available for girls and women include
Embryo Cryopreservation
Egg (Oocyte) Cryopreservation
Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation
In Vitro Maturation (IVM)
Ovarian Transposition
Radical Trachelectomy
Ovarian Suppression
Ovarian Shielding
Click here to view ReproTech's Fertility Preservation 101 archives that describe these options in detail.
April 3 - 9
National Young Adult Cancer Awareness
Week
Each year, 70,000 people aged 15-39 are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. For information, please visit Vital Options' National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week website.
Available on Vital Options' Group Room page, four Public Service Announcements for National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week were produced in collaboration with Dr. Leonard Sender and the AYA Program at UC Irvine Cancer Center. Please help us promote AYA cancer awareness by distributing and posting these PSA's on your center's website and/or Facebook page.
Scheduled to launch in April, the Journal of Adolescent & Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO), will provide a forum for AYA cancer research and practice advances to all professional participants and researchers in AYA cancer care for patients. For more information, please Click here.
Cancer Shop USA is a new online store conceived and created by surgeon Dr. Melanie Bone while going through breast cancer treatment. The goal of the store is to offer one-of-a-kind gifts that are not typical get well gifts, and are not found elsewhere. The store offers over 300 special items to meet cancer patients' needs. The Cancer Sensibility Foundation, founded by Dr. Bone, is a recipient of a portion of all sales.
